Box construction



Y April 25; 1967 G. BELL BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25; 1965 I Fig. 4

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United States Patent Ofliice 3,315,833 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,315,833 BOX CONSTRUCTION Harry Guthrie Bell, Paris, Ky., assignor to Gay-Bell Corporation, Paris, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 427,582 1 Claim. (Cl. 217-69) This invention relates to an improved box construction, and more particularly to a box having walls formed of cardboard, plywood, or the like, and reinforced by metal channel members along the end edges.

Boxes or containers such as briefly described above have come into widespread use both because of their relatively low cost, and because of their relatively high strength. That is, the greater area of the container walls may be formed of relatively low strength, low cost material such as cardboard, plywood, or the like, while the reinforcing metal channel members along the edges or joints of the container greatly add to its strength and rigidity. Such containers are now commonly used for example in the packaging of heavy, bulk products, such as bolts, nuts, and the like, as well as in the packaging of large, bulky objects such as castings.

The box construction of this application is designed for the above uses, and has the following specific objects and advantages.

A very important object of the invention is to provide a box or container of the character described which possesses greater strength than has heretofore been achieved.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a container which is easily and inexpensively fabricated by the manufacturer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a container which gives a stronger closure and resistance to internal forces, such as are encountered in the storage of heavy bulk products.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container closure which elfects a good seal against leakage of contents such as powder, tobacco, and so forth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container which, while having the above characteristics, may be easily disassembled for storage, and reassembled for usage.

Various other objects or advantages of this invention will become apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading the instant specification in association with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of two of the enclosing side walls of a container constructed according to this invention, and showing the configuration of the channel like members secured to the ends thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one way in which adjacent side walls of the container may be secured together;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an end wall of the container, and the configuration of the channel like member secured to the edges thereof;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation showing an open top container with the end wall resting in position;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view showing the end wall secured in position;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view on a greatly enlarged scale taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the end Wall fastened in place.

Briefly, the practice of this invention contemplates a box construction including four enclosing side walls and a pair of end walls. The end edges of each of the end walls are provided with a slightly diiferent channel like member, this one being provided with an outwardly extending abutment parallel to but spaced from the edges of the end wall. When placed in position, the edges of the end wall will be engaged by the inwardly extending flange of the channel like members on the end edges of the enclosing side walls; and will be secured in place by means (described in more detail hereinafter) engaging the abutment of the channel like member secured to the edges of the end wall.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a pair of adjacent enclosing side walls 10 and 11 have been shown in perspective. It will be understood that these side walls may be formed of any suitable, conventional material. Secured to the end edges of each of the walls 10 and 11 as by staples or the like are the generally channel-like members indicated at 12. As best seen in the lower portion of FIGURE 1, the channel like member 12 includes an inwardly extending flange 13. p

The four enclosing side walls of the box of this invention may be secured together in a variety of ways. The preferred form of the invention contemplates the formation of the loops 14 and 15 (see FIGURE 2) which may be easily produced during the forming of the channel like member 12. A loop of flexible steel banding may be passed through the loops 14 and 15, and secured by means of the crimped clamp 17.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, each end wall 18 of the container will have the channel like member 19 secured to each of its edges. As will be clearly apparent from examining FIGURES 3-6, each of the channel like members 19 includes the outwardly extending abutment 20, which is parallel to and spaced from the edges of the end wall 18. As will be apparent from examining FIGURE 6, the abutment 20 is spaced from the edge of the end wall 18 by a distance which is substantially equal to the width of the flange 13, this width being indicated in FIGURE 6 at 21. It will also be apparent that the width (the dimension indicated at 22) of the abutment 20 will be substantially equal of the thickness of the flange 13.

The relationship described above means that the flange 13 and the abutment 20 will be in substantially complete contact around the ends of the box or container. It will also be noted that the edges of the end walls are retained by the flange 13 of the channel like member 12.

As seen in FIGURE 4, three of the enclosing side walls of the container have been assembled as described above, and the end wall may be placed in position. The end wall is preferably secured in position as shown in FIGURE 5, the container now being fully closed. The outer portion of the abutment 20 is provided with a pair of slots defining the fastening means or loop 23. Similarly, the outer wall of the channel like member 12 is provided with the fastening means or loop 24. Passed around the loops 23 and 24 is a loop of flexible steel banding 25, which is secured by means of the crimped clamp 26. It should be apparent to the skilled worker in the art that this method of securing the end walls of the container in place offers several advantages. That is, it forces the flange 13 into contact with the abutment 20, and at the same time, forces the edges of the end Wall 18 into contact with the inner surface of the flange 13. This helps to provide a very effective seal.

It is believed that the foregoing constitutes a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the instant invention. Numerous modifications may be made in this construction without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and hence no limitations are to be inferred except insofar as set forth in the appended claim.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A box having enclosing side Walls; and a pair of end walls; a channel-like member secured to each end edge of said enclosing side Walls, said channel-like member having an inwardly extending flange; a second channellike member secured to each edge of at least one of said end walls, said last mentioned channel-like member having an outwardly extending abutment Whose width is substantially equal to the thickness of said flange, said abutment being parallel to and spaced from the edges of said end Wall by a distance substantially equal to the width of said flange, whereby said abutment and said flange are in substantial contact, and means engaging the said abutment to secure said end Wall to said enclosing side Walls, said last named means comprising fast- 4 ening means on the outer end of said abutment, fastening means on the opposite side of said channel-like member from said flange, and flexible securing means extending therebetWeen.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,024,035 12/1935 Foshee 217 44 2,862,639 12/1958 Bell 217 44 2,396,303 7/1959 Papyetal.

3,000,531 9/1961 Gay etal. 217-44 3,157,340 11/1964 Gay 61; a1. 217 44 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Examiner. 

